Inner-tube protector.



P. K. TUCKER.

INNER TUBE PROTECTOR. APPLICATION msu JULY 21,19la.

`Patented Feb. '11, 1919.

INN ECR-TUBE PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. Il, 1919.

A Application filed July 27, 1918. Serial No. 247,048.

To all wiom t may concern: f

Be it known that I, PHILANDER KILE the United States, re-

TUoKnR, citizen of siding at Sioux Falls, in the county of Minnehaha andState of South Dakota, have 4 invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Inner-Tube Protectors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in aninner tube protector and it has for a principal object to provide ametallic armor consisting of a series of flexible overlapping sertionbetween the casing Vand the inner tube of an automobile tire to protectthe tube against puncture.

he invention further resides in an improved form of plate having meansfor detachably connecting the same to the adjacent plate in a secure andlocked manner.

Further, the invention resides in the features of construction and thearrangements and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanyin drawing wherein:

Figure l is a ragmentary side elevation of a wheel, the tire beingbroken away to show the application of the protector;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof on line 2-2 of Fig. l; p

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a fragment of the protector, moreclearly illustrating the connection between the plates;

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a view l illustrating the manner of connecting anddisconnecting the plates.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the casing l and inner tube 2are interposed by the protector consisting of a plurality of flexibleoverlapping plates 3 of thin tempered steel, and a means of connectiontherebetween.

This means of Vconnection .consists of a tongue 4.- formed on one sideedgebf each plate 3 at a substantially central point, said tongue havinga head and a reduced neck part 5 which supports the head spaced from ofthe plate and defines a one side and a long slot 7 of the head thusextends farther on one side than on the other, and the outer edge of theplates for in head is preferably semi-circular.

the tongue and in the body of the provided than the width of the head ofthe tongue. In connecting the plates into band formation, the tongue ofone plate is tilted for inserting the point Vl0 initially through theslot VV9 of the adjacent plate and then shifted laterally to the rightto bring the edge of `the slot into the longer tongue slot 7. With theedge of the plate slotlocated at the plate may V shifting brings theopposite end ofthe slot 9 into the shorter slot 6 in which 7 to closethe same and since, in unlocking a section, it is requisite to disposeone end of a slot 9 in the innermost corner of tongue slot 7 in order topermit passage of the opposite corner 11 of the tongue through theopposite end of the slot 9, said overlapping senii-circular edge willlock a third pl( te against removal. In order that the rounded outer orfree end of the tongues may be retained operative across t e inner endof the slots 7, said free ends are inserted through the transverse plateslot 9 of the third plate, and to unlock or remove a plate it isnecessary to first remove the free end of a from its second whereuponthe inner end of the predetermined covered for receiving the adjacentend of a plate slot 9. hus positioned, the point 1l of the head is swungdownwardly through said plate slot and the head entirely withdrawn.

hus, the head can not be removed except by irst passing the point 11through the plate slot, and such point is only positioned for removalwhen the opposite end of the plate slot is located at the lower innerend ofil the slot flhis latter is only obtainable w overlapping tongue.

It will therefore be clearV that the overn lapping tengues securely andpositively lock Beneath i slot 7 will be un-V lll@ the heads againstaccidental displacement. The overlapping tongues occur at the center ofthe flexible protector -band thereby doubly reinforcing the tread or thetire. The plates are preferably tapered tovvard the sides o the tire andoverlap throughout their lengths. They may expeditiously be stamped fromthin steel sheets. Being iieXible the plates readily yield shape of thetire, and being connected only at their centers the ends or the Chain orplates will slide over each other to increase their overlap.

:What is claimed is:`

1'. A protector for tires comprisinga plurality of overlapping plateseach having a slot and a tongue extend-ing from' one edge or the platefor interlocking. in the slot of an adjaeent plate, said tongue having areduced neck of less Width than the length or the slot to permitshifting or the neck into one end ot the slot whereby the opposite sideof the tongue may be passed through the, slot on relative angularmovement betiveen the connected plates, and means supplementing theWidth of the neck to lock the neck against shitting'l in the slot;

2, A protector for tires comprising a plurality of overlapping plateseach having a slot and a tongue extending from one edge of the plate forinterlocking in the slot or an adjacent plate, said `tongue having areduc'ed neck or less Width than the length of the sloty tol permitshifting of the neck into one end ot the slot whereby the opposite Sideor the tongue may be passed through the slot on relative angularmovement between the connected plates, the'ton'gne or a third platelwhich passes through'the slot of said adjacent plate having its outerend extending over the n eekv of the first tongue to increase its Widthand thereby prevent removal of said lirst` ton-gue. f

3. A protector for tires comprising a plural-ity of ow'ferlapping, thin,tempered, steel plates arranged transversely of the tire and providedwiili centrally locatedy tongues each tongue having a short slotextending in from one edge thereof and along slot extending in from theopposite edge thereby dening a head vpart and a neck part, the inner endWall ot the vlong slot inclining invvardly tocopies 'of entspannt may beobramea for and contorni to the rvard the base of the neck and adaptedt0 be covered lby lthe head of tong-ue, said plates provided with 'slotsfor reeevng'thetongues'.

4. Aproteetor for tires comprising a plurality of overlappinginterlocked plates each having a .slot in its body and a part extendingfrom one edge of the plate orinterloek ing in the-slot Otan adjacentplate, said part undercut from opposite sides by inwardly extendingslots, the length ofthe" slot being in'exeess to vthe distanee from theinner end of one undercutting slot. to the oppoan adjacent site sideedge or said part vvlierehy'thellatter may be removed from the hodyslot, and means extending across theinner end of the specifiednndierentting slot for locln'n-g4 the tongue against removal.

5. A protector formed of plurality of overlapping 'flexible plateseaeh'io'rnied with a slot and a tongue interlocking vvithaslot of anadjacent plate, each tongue having a head and perniitting the insertionand removal ofthe head' in a slot, said tonguesl furthermore overlappingthe cut outs ot adjacent tongues to lock the saine against removal. 6.vA protector ror Vtires comprising a plurality of over appin'gvinterlocled plates each lateral eut ont d-eining a 'having a slot in itsWoodyV anfd a vpart errgend-` Aing from one edge ofthe plate forinterlocking" inthe slot of an adjfaentplatd said vundercut fromopposite sides by inwardly extending slots,- the length of the slotbeing in excess tothe distance trom the inner end of one under-cuttingslot to thevopposite side edge of said part whereby tieflatter r'nay 'beremoved from the body slet, and means earried by a third pla/te andextending'aeross the inner end of the specified iniderci'itting slot forloel'r'ing 7. A preteetor' roif'inedorA afplurality of overlappingleXiible plates each formedlv'vith a slot and Ya tongue interlockablewith the slot through a relative pivotal no'owen'ient,'V saidtongueshavrng 'gagmg the slots of the second their' eXtreme end-senadjfaeentplates thetongn'es reror overlapping Vand locking speetivelyengaged therein. i

In testimony vv'herof ifaiiii signature.

' rnrtannnnnite-TUCKER.

the tongue` against removal. Y

